Traffic counter



April 10, 1951 G. R. HALL 2,547,937

TRAFFIC COUNTER Filed June 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 2/ J4 W mvENTOR G-LEN R- HALL Br /?WATT:I;NET

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. R. HALL TRAFFIC COUNTER April 10, 1951 Filed June 5, 1946 .R R NA EH MR N E L .G I U m 3 W a 2 50 f 4 w 4 1a 4 MW a w A-r'ronmsr" Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAFFIC COUNTER Glen R. Hall, Uhrichsville, Ohio Application June 5, 1946, Serial No. 674,487

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a trafiic counter and the present application constitutes a continuation in part from my co-pending application filed November 17, 1941, Ser. No. 419,473, and issued as Patent No. 2,403,277 on July 2, 1946.

One object of the invention is to provide a traific counter including counter mechanism enclosed in a casing which is actuated by electrical mechanism including a circuit closer moved to a closed position by air forced in a direction to close the circuit closer s wheels of a vehicle pass over a rubber tube laid across a street or highway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter wherein the switch or circuit closer is closed by direct contact of a ball with the movable contact when the ball is shifted upwardly by an air impulse.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter wherein the ball for closing the circuit closer also serves as a valve for allowing escape of air from the hose when the hose is collapsed by Wheels of a vehicle passing over it, there being an auxiliary valve controlled passage which is closed during upward movement of the ball and opened during seating of the ball so that air may flow into the hose and quickly fill it and thus allow the counter to operate accurately during a heavy flow of traffic along a street.

Another object of the invention is to provide the counter with an auxiliary valve which is closed by air pressure when the ball of the main valve is shifted upwardly to close the circuit closer and returns to its lowered or opened position so that ample air will enter the hose to fill it after wheels of a vehicle pass across the hose. Therefore during heavy traffic the hose will be completely refilled each time wheels of a vehicle pass across the hose and accurate operation of the counter will be efiected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traflic counter wherein the counter has a crank arm pivoted to the upper end of the core of a solenoid which is energized when the circuit closer is closed and directly operates the counter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the trainc counter in position for use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the trafiic counter.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the counting mechanism in end elevation with the hood of its casing indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the counting mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view upon an enlarged scale taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3.

' Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-5 of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram.

This traffic counter is used for counting the number of vehicles which pass a predetermined location along a street or highway I and is actuated by Wheels of vehicles passing across a rubber hose 2 stretched across the highway and secured by the peg 3 or in any other desired manner. This hose enters a casing 4 where it is wound upon a reel 5 carrying a tube 6 with which a rubber hose is connected, and referring to Figure 5 it will be seen that the other end of the hose 1 is connected with the inner end of a coupling 8 mounted through the top wall Q of the casing 4.

The counting mechanism constituting the subject matter of this invention is mounted upon the top of the casing 4 and has a casing H3 consisting of a base i l and a hood H which is removably secured to the base by screws l3 which pass downwardly through openings in end portions of the hood and into sockets formed in the base. A gasket l4 forms a water tight joint between the base and the hood. It will be understood that while the casing if has been shown mounted upon a casing 4 enclosing a reel upon which the hose 2 is wound the counting mechanism may be used independently of the housing or casing and the hose 2 directly connected with the counting mechanism if so desired.

The base H is hollow and open at its top to provide a pocket [5 in which fits a dry battery I 6. Blocks I1 and I8 are formed at corners of one side of the base nd intermediate the length of this side is a block I9, it being understood that the blocks may be formed as a single unit if so desired. A bracket 28 is mounted upon the block I! and this bracket carries a solenoid 25 having a vertically movable core 22. At its upper end the bracket is bent to form an arm 23 upon which is mounted a counter 24 viewed through a window l2 in "the cover 12 and having the usual mechanism operated when its rocker shaft 25 is turned by a crank 26. The crank is secured to the shaft by a set screw 22' and carries a pin 28 which passes through an opening formed through the upper end of the core so that when the solenoid is momentarily energized and the core moves upwardly and then returns to its normal lowered position the counter will be actuated.

The intermediate block 19 carries a post 29 secured to the base by a set screw 3!] and about this post is a collar 3! upon which rests a strip of insulation 32. Over the insulating strip is a. movable contact consisting of a strip of thin resilient metal 33 carrying a contact point 34, the strip 33 being held in spaced relation to the insulating strip by a metal spacer or Washer 33% and secured by a nut 36. Over the nut 36 is a strip of insulation 37 clamped between nuts 38 and 39 carried by the post 2'9 and over nut 39 is a nut 40 so that a conductor 4! leading from one end of the coil of the solenoid may be secured to the post between the nuts 39 and ill The conductor 2-2 leadingfrom the other end of the coil is secured between nuts 43 threaded upon a post 44 carried by the insulating strip 3'! and to this post 44 is also secured a conductor 55 leading from one side of the battery it. The conductor 46 extending from the other side of the battery is secured between nuts threaded upon a post carried by the insulating strip 31, and this post 118 also has secured to it a conductor 49 leading from a mercury switch carried by the block H. The second conductor 5! for the mercury switch is secured to astationary contact '52 by a nut 53 and this stationary contact 52 is threaded through the insulating stript'l directly over the contact point 34 of the movable contact strip 33 By adjusting the stationary contact 52 vertically the distance its lower endis normally spaced upwardly from the contact point 34; may be regulated and the extent to which the movable contact strip must be flexed upwardly to close a circuit through the solenoid coil controlled. In case the counter should beaccidentally turned over the mercury switch will open andthe circuit can not close and exhaust current of the battery.

The movable contract strip 33 is moved upwardly into engagement with the stationary contact 52 by a ball 54 loosely mounted in a seat or recess 55 formed in a plug 56 which is screwed into a threaded socket 51 formed in the block iii. A passage 58 communicates with the socket '51 and into the enlarged and threaded outer end portion of this passage is screwed a nipple 5% with which the coupling 8 is connected. Therefore when the wheels of a vehicle pass over the rubher tube 2 air in the tube will be forced through passage 58 into the socket 5i and upwardly through the opening 59 of the plug and act upon the ball to shift the ball upwardly and cause it to raise the movable contact strip 33 upwardly into engagement with the stationarycontact 52. The circuit through the solenoid will thus be closed and the core 22 shifted upwardly 'to actuate the counter wardly air escapes from the plug about the ball and the ball will then drop to its normalposition and the circuit will be broken. During return of the ball to its normal position air will be sucked into the hose or tube 2 by expansion of the tube after the vehicle wheels have passed across it and the device will be ready for another counting operation when vehicle wheels again'pass across the tube 2 providing there has been-a sufficient time interval for complete filling of the tube.

During heavy traffic it has been found that since wheels pass over the tube 2 in rapid succession it often happens that sufficient air will not be sucked inwardly through passage 59 to'fill the tube before the tube is again compressed by vehicle wheels and an accurate count is not obtained. In order to overcome this there has been provided an inlet valve 60 having a barrel 6| which is disposed vertically and has its lower end portions screws into a socket 62 formed in the block 18 near the socket 51, a passage 63 being provided to establish communication between the sockets. A pocket fi l is formed at the upper end of a passage 65 which extends vertically through the barrel 6i and in this pocket a valve ball 5% which normally rests upon a pin 86 in a lowered or opened position, and closes the inlet at the upper end of the pocket when shifted upwardly. When air is forced through the pas- 2'4. When the ball moves upsage 58 into socket 51 to raise the ball 54 and close the circuit a portion of the air flows through passage 63 into pocket 62 and upwardly through passage 55 to act upon the ball 66 and move the ball to a closed position which stops flow of air from the upper end of the pocket 6d and insures a full force of air upon the ball 5 and causes quick movement of the ball 5 to the raised position. After the vehicle wheels have passed over the tube 2 the ball 66 drops downwardly to an opened position and air may flow inwardly through valve 60 and since this air will flow through passage 63 into pocket 51 and through passage 58 to the tube, the tube 2 will be quickly filled and returned to a fully extended condition. Therefore when the wheels of another vehicle pass across the tube the counter will be actuated and an accurate count of the number of vehicles which have passed across the tube 2 obtained.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a traffic counter, a base formed with an air passage having a vertically extending inner end portion, means for connecting a hose with the outer end of said air passage, a counting unit, electrically actuated means for operating the counting unit having a circuit including "a stationary contact and a movable contact "extending horizontally under the stationary contact with a free end portion disposed 'over the inner end of the air passage, an annular "seat about the inner end of the air passage disposed under the free end of the movable c'ontact,'a ball'norni'ally resting upon the annular seat and upon which the free end of the movable contact restsj-s'aid ball being movable upwardly by air force'd inwardly through the ''air passage by "a vehicle wheel passing across a hose connected with the air passage, the ball when shifted upwardlyraising the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contactand thereby closin'g acircuit through the operating'rne'ans and also allow ing rapid escape of 'air from the ihne'r end of the air passage about the ball forqu'ick return of the ball and the movable contact'toamorrnal position, and said movable contact applying pressure to the ball and returning it-to the seat after the vehicle wheel moves off of the ho'se.

2. In a traffic counterya base formed with an air passage having a vertically extending inner end portion, means for connecting a hose with the outer end of said air passage, a counting unit, electrically actuated means for operating the counting unit having'a circuit including "a stationary contact and a movable contact extending horizontally under thestationary contact with a free "end portion disposed over the inner end of the 'air passage, anannular seat about theinner end'of the air"passagedis fic'ised under the free end of themovable eontaeaatan normally resting upon the annular seat and upon which the movable contact rests, said ball being movable upwardly by air 'rorc-edinwaraly through the air passage by a vehicle 'wheetp assing across a hose connected with the airpassage, the ballwhen shifted upwardly raising the movable contact into engagemntwith the "stationary contact and thereby "165111); a circuit through the operating means andalso'allowing rapid escape of air from the innerfend ofthe air passage about the ball, said movable contact urging the ball downwardly "'andres'eatingthe ball after the vehicle wheel h'asp'assed across the hose, said base being formedwithatecdrid air passage having its inner end communicating with the first air passage below the seat, anoutwardly closing check valve for controlling fiow of air through the second air passage, said check valve being normally open and being closable by pressure of air forced through the second air passage from the first air passage during passage of the wheel over the hose, the check valve opening to allow flow of air inwardly through check valve opening to allow flow of air inwardly through the second air passage and the first air passage and thereby effect quick filling of the hose after the vehicle wheel has passed across the hose.

3. In a trafiic counter, a base formed with an air passage having a vertically extending inner end portion, means for connecting a hose with the outer end of said air passage, a counting unit, electrically actuated means for operating the counting unit having a circuit including a flexible stationary contact and a movable contact extending horizontally under the stationary contact with a free end portion disposed over the inner end of the air passage, an annular seat about the inner end of the air passage disposed under the free end of the movable contact, a ball normally resting upon the annular seat and upon which the free end of the movable contact rests and adapted to be moved upwardly by air forced inwardly through the air passage by a vehicle wheel passing across a hose connected with the air passage, the ball when shifted upwardly raising the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact and thereby closing a circuit through the operating means and also allowing rapid escape of air from the inner end of the air passage about the ball, said movable contact urging the ball downwardly and reseating the ball after the vehicle wheel has passed across the hose, said base being formed with a second air passage having its inner end communicating with the first air passage below the seat and its outer end communicating with the bottom of a vertical socket opening through the upper face of the base, and a normally open upwardly closing check valve mounted vertically in the socket adapted to be closed by pressure of air forced through the second air passage and upwardly through the valve as the vehicle wheel passes across the hose and then returning to its open condition to allow inward flow of air through the second air passage and thereby effecting rapid refilling of the hose with air.

4. In a trafiic counter, a base formed with an air passage having a vertically extending inner end portion, means for connecting a hose with the outer end of said air passage, a counting unit, electrically actuated means in said casing for operating the counting unit having a circuit including a stationary contact and a movable contact extending horizontally under the stationary contact with a free end portion disposed over the inner end of the air passage, an annular seat about the inner end of the air passage disposed under the free end of the movable contact, a ball normally resting upon the annular seat and upon which the free end of the movable contact rests, said ball being adapted to be moved upwardly by air forced inwardly through the air passage by a vehicle wheel passing across a hose connected with the air passage, the ball when shifted upwardly raising the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact and thereby closing a circuit through the operating means and also allowing rapid escape of air from the inner end of the air passage about the ball, said movable contact urging the ball downwardly and reseating the ball after the vehicle wheel has passed across the hose, said base being formed with a second air passage having its inner end communicating with the first air passage below the seat and its outer end communicating with the bottom of a vertical socket opening through the upper face of the base, and a check valve consisting of a valve casing mounted in the socket through the upper end thereof and formed with a vertical bore and with a pocket at the upper end of its bore surrounded at its top by an annular valve seat, and a valve ball in said pocket normally resting upon the bottom of the pocket directly over the bore out of closing relation thereto and adapted to be shifted upwardly to a closed position against the valve seat of the casing by pressure of air forced through the second air passage and upwardly through the bore as the vehicle wheel passes over the hose, said valve ball moving downwardly by its weight to its opened position after the vehicle wheel passes across the hose and thereby allowing fiow of air inwardly through the bore and the second mentioned and the first mentioned air passages for quick refilling of the hose,

5. In a traflic counter, a-base formed with a socket open at its top and with an air passage having its inner end communicating with the socket, means for connecting an air hose with the outer end of said air passage, a counting unit, electrically actuated operating means for said counting unit including a circut having an upper contact and a flexible movable contact disposed horizontally under the upper contact in spaced relation thereto with a free end portion disposed over the socket, a block at the upper end of said socket formed with a vertical bore and with a seat about the upper end thereof, and a ball normally resting upon said seat and disposed under the movable contact with the free end portion of the movable contact over the ball, the ball being freely shiftable upwardly off of the seat by air forced upwardly through the bore by action of a vehicle wheel passing across the hose and when moved upwardly momentarily holding the movable contact by direct engagement therewith in engagement with the upper contact and allowing escape of air from the bore around the ball.

6. In a traffic counter, a base formed with a vertical socket open at its top and with an air passage having its inner end communicating with said socket, means for connecting an air hose with the outer end of said air passage, a valve seat mounted in said socket through the upper end thereof, a counting unit, electrically actuated means for operating the counting unit including a circuit closer having an upper contact and a resilient movable contact strip extending horizontally under the upper contact and having a free end portion disposed over said seat, and a ball normally resting upon said seat in closing relation to the socket with the free end portion of the movable contact disposed over the ball, said ball being shiftable upwardly by air forced from the hose when a vehicle wheel passes over the hose and thereby allowing rapid escape of air from the hose and also serving to flex the movable contact upwardly by direct engagement therewith into engagement with the upper contact and momentarily close the circuit.

'7. In a traflic counter, a base formed with an air passage, means for connecting a hose with the outer end of said passage, a counting unit,

"temps? electrically a tuated operating means for said counting unit having a circuit including an upper contact and a movable contact extending h'cri 'zontally under the upper contact and normally spaced downwardly therefrom, an annular seat over the inner end of said passage disposed under the movable contact, and a ball normally resting upon said seat and being freely movable upwardly by action of air forced through the passage by a vehicle passing across the hose, said ball when shifted upwardly momentarily holding the movable contact in engagement with the upper contact by direct engagement with the movable contact and also allowing quick escape of air from the passage about the ball during upward movement of the ball and permitting return of air around the ball and through the passage into the hose during downward movement of the ball onto the seat.

8. In a traffic counter, a body formed with an air passage open at inner and outer ends, means for connecting a hose with the outer end of said air passage, a counting unit, electrically actuated operating means for said counting unit having :a circuit including a contact spaced from the inner end of said air passage and a movable contact normally spaced from the first contact and having a portion extending across the inner end of the air passage, a seat at the inner end of the air passage, and an unconfined member entirely free from and normally resting against said seat and overlapped by'the movable contact, said member being freely movable away from the :seat and when so moved applying pressure to the movable contact by direct engagement therewith to momentarily hold them'ovable contact in circuit closing engagement with the first contact, said member while moving away from the seat allowing rapid and unobstructed escape of air from the inner end of the air passage about the member, and said member also allowing return of air through the air passage into the hose durmg return movement of the-member into engage ,ment with the seat.

9. In a traffic counter, a body formed with an air passage open at inner and outer ends, means for connecting a hose with the outer end of said air passage, a counting unit, electrically actuated operating means for said counting unit having a circuit having a normally open switch includ- 'ing a contact spaced from the inner end of the air passage and a movable contact normally spaced from the first contact and having a portion extending across the inner end of the air passage, a seat about the inner end of the air passage, and a ball normally resting against said seat in closing relation to the air passa e and overlapped by the movable contact, said ball being movable away from the seat by air pressure exerted when pressure is applied to the hose and when so moved away from the seat applying pressure to the movable contact by direct engagement therewith to momentarily hold the movable contact in circuit-closing engagement with the first contact, said ball when moved away from the seat allowing rapid escape of air from the hose through the air passage and about the ball and during return movement towards the seat allowing flow or air about the ball and through the air passage into the hose to refill the hose.

GLEN R. HALL.

aarnnnncris orrnn The following references are of record in the file 01 this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

